Abstract:
The purpose of "Pest Control Alternatives, South Carolina" is to aid in the development and evaluation of microbial pest control agents (MPCA) for control of plant pathogens and insect pests of vegetables; determination of the efficacy of innovative cultural practices for vegetable production systems in South Carolina; assessment of the role of indigenous predators, parasites, and pathogens in ... controlling insect pests; the determination of environmental and biological factors that influence the abundance and distribution of these indigenous beneficials; and the consideration of the presence of natural enemies, as well as pests, in management decisions; and the transfer of new technology to user groups.

Collection Organization: Clemson University

Collection Methodology: Isolate and characterize new naturally-occurring microorganisms and determine their potential for biological control. Test the efficacy and determine optimum use patterns for newly isolated and commercially available microbial pest control agents (MPCA) under field conditions. Evaluate new innovative production systems that attempt to utilize or modify environmental variables in the cropping system to control insects and diseases. Compare organic gardening systems in vegetable crop production that emphasize microbial control agents and limited chemical inputs to systems that utilize traditional chemical control methods. Evaluate innovative production systems that attempt to utilize or modify environmental variables in the cropping system to control insects and diseases. Determine the potential of soil solarization to suppress plant pathogens (including nematodes) and weeds.